Drinking Water Regulations And Health Advisories

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water (OW) initiated the Health Advisory Program in 1978 to provide information and guidance to individuals or agencies concerned with potential risk from drinking water contaminants for which no national regulations currently exist. Since that time, more than 130 Health Advisories (HAs) have been published in final form for inorganic, organic, and microbial contaminants. The HAs in this volume were developed in a cooperative effort with the Office of Research and Development. They summarize available data concerning the occurrence, pharmacokinetics, and health effects of 12 specific contaminants or mixtures. Each HA also discusses available analytical methods and treatment techniques for the contaminant. Each HA has undergone critical internal review by the OW Toxicology Review Panel and EPA program offices. Health Advisories for Drinking Water Contaminants will be an important reference document for all public health officials, drinking water professionals, and academic libraries.

Each Health Advisory gives the useful and relevant data on the health effects associated with each contaminant, and gives concentrations of the contaminant that would not cause adverse health effects during various periods of exposure. Complete sections also cover information on available analytical methods and treatment techniques for the contaminants. This essential technical guide is a must for water treatment plant supervisors, managers and operators. Federal, state, local and public officials who are responsible for drinking water quality and public health in the event of emergency spills or pesticide contamination will value this easy-to-use reference.

This volume describes the methods used in the surveillance of drinking water quality in the light of the special problems of small-community supplies, particularly in developing countries, and outlines the strategies necessary to ensure that surveillance is effective.

This publication contains the first addendum to Volume One of the 3rd edition (2004, ISBN 9241546387) of the WHO's guidelines which are used by countries worldwide to set standards for the regulation of drinking water quality and effective approaches to water safety management, including approaches to ensuring microbial safety. It gives details of all changes to the Guidelines since 2004, including the addition of three new chemical fact sheets and revisions to several others, updated guideline summary tables, new information to address local actions in response to chemical water quality problems and emergencies, an expanded discussion of chemicals used in water treatment and chemicals arising from materials in contact with water, and a complete list of minor revisions or amendments.